Structure for use in hydraulic engineering.



No. 670,32I. Patented Mar. I9, I90I- W. V. JUDSDN. STRUCTURE FOR USE IN HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING. I

(Application filed Dec. 20. 1900.\ (N0 Modem 2 SheeIs-.-Sheet I.

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N0. 670,32i. Patented Mar. l9, l90l. W. V. JUDSON. v STRUCTURE FOR USE IN HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING.

(Application filed Dec. 20, 1900. (No Model.) 2 She ets-Sheet 2.

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Human STaTns PATENT Trice.

WILLIAM V. JUDSON, OF THE UNITED S'IA'IES ARMY.

STRUCTURE FQR USE lN HYDRAULlG ENGlNEERlNG.

SPEGKFICAEION forming part of Letters Eatent No. 670,321, dated March 19, 1901.

Application filed December 20, 1900. berial No. 40,570. (No model.)

To (6M whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM V. Jonson, captain in Corps of Engineers, United States Army, stationed at Montgomery, in the county of Montgomery and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Structures for Use in Hydraulic Engineering; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in structures for use in hydraulic engineering, such as foundations in water, revetments, piers, retaining-walls, and the like.

The said invention consists in a combination of metal or wood with concrete or other masonry so arranged in combination with airspaces as to form a construction that will possess flotation or which can easily be floated by means of auxiliary l'loats, so thatisaid construction may easily be assembled upon the land or upon a floating vessel and launched therefrom and then towed or propelled into position over a prepared or natural foundatiou, where it may be sunk either by the admission of water into the air-chambers or by the addition of weights. When sunk, my invention is designed to form part of a pier or retaining-wall or a foundation or to cover a portion of the bottom of a body of water and prevent erosion therefrom, due to Waves or currents.

Figure 1 represents a sectional view of one form of my invention, the section being along the line 1 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 represents a section along the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a-seotion along the lines 3 3 of Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 represents a similar section to that shown in Fig. 1, except that an inlet and air-pipes are provided for purposes hereinafter described. Fig. 5 represents a transverse section of a modified form of the device, the section being along the line 5 5 of Fig. 6; and Fig. 6 represents a section along the line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

In all the various figures similar letters refor to corresponding parts.

A represents concrete or other masonry.

B represents a metallic or Wooden stiffener.

ture.

E represents a valve or sea-cock.

F represents an air-cock.

G represents the end of a pipe to which a pump may be attached.

E, Fig. 6, represents a hand-line adaptedto operate any convenient tripping device H, which releases the end CL of the beam pertaining to the removable bottom A of the caisson and allows said beam to swing up about the opposite end a, releasing the bottom plank and permitting the influx of water, mud, or sand at the desired moment.

A Fig. 6, represents the upper head of the caisson, which may or may not be used. The lower edge of the caisson (shown in Fig. 6) is preferably pointed somewhat, as at G2, to allow it to cut more readily into the earth or sand as the caisson descends.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the device may be constructed either slightly heavier than the water it replaces, in whichcase it would have to be supported by floats tintd it reached the point of its destination, where it is released and allowed to sink, or it may be made slightly lighter than the Water it replaces, and water may be admitted by sea valves or cocks similar to those shown in Fig,

at when it is desired to sink the caisson, the air being released through the cooks shown,

or the sinking may be accomplished by the addition of weights.

In the form of the device shown in Fig. at D represents a pipe controlled by the sea-cock E. This form of caisson is made lighter than the water it displaces and is towed to the point of its destination, when if water be admitted through the sea'cock E into the pipe I) and thence through openings into the void 0 and the cooks f be open the caisson will sink. If it is desired to subsequently lift the caisson, the sea-cock E may be closed, the water pumped out of the chambers O by means of a pump attached to the pipe D at G, and the caisson will float.

In the form of the device shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the caisson is shown as cylindrical, though it may be made hexagonal or other shape, if desired, and it is provided with pipes G D, extending down through the walls of the caisson to or through the bottom edge thereof, and water under pressure is forced through these pipes, causing the sharpened edges a tosettle or sink in the earth or sand until the caisson has reached the required depth and bearing. The bottom A may be permanently secured in the caisson, in which case the erosion of the water through the pipes G D will only carry the caisson down to about the height of the bottom A above the base a of the caisson, or this bottom may be made removable, as shown, and used merely to keep water out of the caisson, and thus give it the requisite buoyancy while it is being floated to its destination.

The top A it will be obvious, may be omitted from the caisson altogether or may be put in place either before the caisson has left the shore or after it has been partly submerged. It is also obvious that the top over the voids may be omitted in the form shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Thus the caisson may have a fixed or a removable bottom and be constructed with or without a top. Where no top is used, the caisson may be filled in and the foundation built on the top of the filling and the surrounding cylinder.

It will be obvious that the pipes G D may be omitted and the caisson with the removable bottom may be towed or otherwise trans ported to its destination, and when placed the bottom may be tripped and the caisson allowed to sink of its own weight, and afterward weights may be piled on the top of the caisson, causing it to sink still farther, if desired.

It will be obvious that any of the various caissons herein described maybe either towed by or carried on another vessel and may be launched from the latter, if desired; also, that weights placed on the top of the caisson may be used to submerge the same in place of filling the chambers with water, if preferred.

The sinking of a sufficient number of these caissons would provide a suitable foundation for lighthouses or the like, while the sinking of a number of these caissons in line would be adapted to the forming of a pier, breakwater, or retaining-wall.

In any of the above methods it will be noted that a durable and easily-placed structure is secured, which combines great structural strength with comparative cheapness.

It is the office of the metallic or wooden stiifeners to act by special virtue of their tensile strength, while the concrete or other masonry furnishes the necessary weight, surface areas, and resistance to compressive stresses.

The various advantages of the herein-described invention will readily suggest themselves to any competent engineer.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A caisson or similar structure, comprising a mass of concrete, with stifleners embedded therein, arranged to provide air-cham bers or voids, so that flotation may be availed of to introduce the caisson into position as part or all of a foundation, breakwater, pier, retaining-wall or revetment, substantially as described.

2. In a caisson or similar structure, the combination with a mass of concrete, with stiffeners embedded therein, the said mass being hollowed into chambers or voids so that the same may be floated, and a pipe or pipes with suitable valves and connections whereby the caisson may be sunk when and where desired, or raised again by filling the hollow chambers With Water, or emptying the same, substantially as described.

3. In a caisson, or similar structure, the combination of metallic or similar stiffener-s with concrete or other masonry, so disposed about air-chambers, or voids, that flotation may be availed of to introduce the caisson into position as part or all of a foundation, breakwater,pier, retaining-wall or revetment, and a pipe or pipes designed to convey water under pressure from above the general surface of the water to a point or points near the base of the structure, to act as a jet or jets, and thus to sink the caisson into the earth or sand, substantially as described.

4. In a caisson,or similar structure, the combination of metallic or similar stifieners with concrete or other masonry, so disposed about air-chambers, or voids, that flotation may be availed of to introduce the caisson into position as part or all of a foundation, breakwater, pier, retaining wall or revetment, and a removable bottom of wood or other material designed to assist in flotation to the point of final location, but then to be removed to permit the penetration of the sides of the structure into the bottom of the lake, river or bay, substantially as described.

5. A caisson or similar structure provided with a removable bottom, and a tripping device operated from the top of the caisson for releasing said bottom and allowing the buoyant elfect of the water to remove the same, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM V. JUDSON.

Witnesses:

GUsTAvE R. LUKESH, R. H. GORGAS.

IIS 

